Hair dryer nozzle

ABSTRACT

A blower nozzle for a hair dryer incorporating a deflector hinged to the nozzle and spaced from a restricted, forward opening in the nozzle whereby at least a portion of the air passing through the nozzle may be selectively deflected to the right or left.

United States Patent [191 Cercone 51 .ian.14,1975

[ HAIR DRYER NOZZLE [76] Inventor: Daniel Cercone, 4720 Liberty Ave.,

Pittsburgh, Pa. 15224 [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 423,213

[52] US. Cl 239/135, 239/289, 239/455, 239/508, 239/566, 34/97 [51] Int.Cl..... A45d 20/12, B05b 15/04, B05b H14 [58] Field of Search 239/128,135, 289, 265.19, 239/437-439, 455, 508, 566', 34/96-98 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 816,897 4/1906 Bray 239/508 X 2,713,6277/1955 Kamataris 34/97 UX 3,465,968 9/1969 Halpern 239/508 X 3,550,28512/1970 Omohundro 34/97 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 179,573 12/1906Germany 34/96 Primary ExaminerRobert S. Ward, Jr. Attorney, Agent, orFirmBr0wn, Murray, Flick & Peckham [57] ABSTRACT 3 Claims, 5 DrawingFigures PATENTED JAN 1 M875 HAIR DRYER NOZZLE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION In the art of styling hair, a blower is employed for producinga heated stream of air which is directed through a nozzle adapted tocontrol the direction and velocity of the stream of air. In operation,it is usually desirable that the mouth of the nozzle be held close tothe head, approximately 1 /2 inches away from the hair. Initially, whenthe hair is quite wet, it is desirable to have a relatively intenselyheated stream of air applied to the hair to dry it as quickly aspossible. Later, when the hair has become partially dry, it is thendesirable to cut down the heat supply to a given area since otherwiseburning of the scalp and discomfort may occur. Attempts have been madein the past to produce a variably heated air stream by employing arheostat or the like which reduces the power supplied to the blowerheating element and reduces the temperature of the air coming from theblower. This has the disadvantage that, by cutting down the amount ofheat supplied, the time required for drying the hair is lengthened andthis causes inconvenience to both the patron and the hair stylist. Otherattempts have been made to reduce the effective temperature by holdingthe blower further away as, for example, by holding it a foot from thehead so as to reduce the burning ability of the air stream. Thisprocedure, however, is quite impractical and cumbersome and tends toproduce a poor hair styling result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a newand improved blower nozzle is provided incorporating a deflector fordeflecting heated air such that the volume of air directed onto aspecific area of the scalp can be reduced without moving the nozzle awayfrom the head of a patron.

Specifically, there is provided in accordance with the invention, ablower nozzle comprising a cylindrical portion connected to the outletof a hand dryer, a nozzle portion connected to the cylindrical portionand having converging opposite side walls terminating in an elongatedrestricted opening, and a deflector carried on the nozzle portion andadapted to deflect air passing through the restrictedopening to theright or left of the opening. The deflector preferably comprises abaffle having a first portion extending along the opening and spacedtherefrom, and portions at the ends of the first portion atsubstantially right angles thereto and hinged to the nozzle portionwhereby the deflector may be rotated about its hinged connection.Preferably, a plurality of spaced openings are provided in the deflectorsuch that when the deflector is directly in front of the nozzle opening,only a portion of the air will pass directly ahead and the remainderwill be deflected to the right and left.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,and in which:

FIG. 1 is a showing in elevation of a blower having the nozzle assemblyof the present invention attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is an artistic showing of a hair stylist working with a blowerand nozzle;

ing a heating element, now shown, an opening 10 for air to enter, and ahandle 12 with which to hold the blower. A switch 14 is provided forcontrolling electric power to the blower motor and heating element;while an electric cord 16 is provided for supplying electrical power tothe blower.

Fitted over the end of the channel 8 is the nozzle 18 of the presentinvention. As is perhaps best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it comprises acylindrical portion 19 adapted to fit over the channel 8 and a nozzleportion 20 having converging opposite side walls which terminate in anelongated restricted opening 22. Carried on the nozzle portion 20 inaccordance with the present invention is a deflector 21 comprising afirst portion 24 extending along the length of the restricted opening 22and spaced therefrom, typically in an amount of about one-fourthinch. Atthe ends of the elongated portion 24 are portions 26 at right anglesthereto. The portions 26, in turn, are pivotally connected to the nozzleportion 20 at the opposite ends of the opening 22. This may beaccomplished by means of a shaft 28, for example, having an enlargedrounded portion 29 at one end of the deflector and a knurled knob 30 atthe other end, whereby the deflector may be rotated to the right or leftby rotating the knob 30. The shaft 28 is force-fitted through openingsin the portions 26 so that as the shaft turns, so also will thedeflector. Furthermore, detents or the like may be provided such that byturning the knob 30, the deflector can be positioned in desired,selected places.

As shown in FIG. 4, the elongated portion 24 of the deflector isprovided with a plurality of apertures 32 through which a stream of airemerging from the nozzle opening may pass.

In the operation of the invention, and with specific reference to FIGS.2 and 5, the knob 30 can be rotated such that the deflector is out ofthe path of an air stream passing through the nozzle opening 22. Thiswould be the case, for example, when the hair is wet and maximumconcentration of heat in a restricted area is desired. Thereafter, whenthe hair begins to dry, the deflector can be rotated into the stream ofair emerging from the nozzle opening. Under these circumstances, part ofthe air will pass through the openings 32 and part will be deflected tothe right or left as shown in FIG. 5. In effect, two air streams are nowprovided and the hair stylist can use either air stream, depending uponrequirements. In order to minimize the volume of air being delivered tothe hair, the deflector will be rotated directly in front of the opening22 such that only a small, restricted amount of air passing through theopenings 32 can be directed onto the scalp, the remainder beingdeflected to the right and/or left.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with a certainspecific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be madedeflector comprising a baffle having a first portion extending alongsaid opening and spaced therefrom, and portions at the ends of saidfirst portion at substantially right angles thereto and hinged to saidnozzle portion whereby the deflector may be rotated about its hingedconnection to the nozzle portion.

2. The blower nozzle of claim 1 including openings in said firstportion.

3. The blower nozzle of claim 1 wherein said first portion is flat.

1. A blower nozzle adapted to fit on a hand dryer for hair comprising acylindrical portion connected to the outlet of said hand dryer, a nozzleportion connected to said cylindrical portion and having convergingopposite side walls terminating in an elongated restricted opening, anda deflector carried on said nozzle portion and adapted to deflect airpassing through said reStricted opening to the right or left of saidopening, said deflector comprising a baffle having a first portionextending along said opening and spaced therefrom, and portions at theends of said first portion at substantially right angles thereto andhinged to said nozzle portion whereby the deflector may be rotated aboutits hinged connection to the nozzle portion.
 2. The blower nozzle ofclaim 1 including openings in said first portion.
 3. The blower nozzleof claim 1 wherein said first portion is flat.